The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-26
INDIANA'S WOOL-GROWERS.
Remarkable Improvementin the Indus
try During the Last Three Years.
The States Production of Wool Larger than
Ever Before, and Prices % Per Cent.
Higher than Year Ago.

About fifty of Indiana's leading wool-growers
climbed up the stairs into the rooms of the State
Board or Agriculture. yesterday morning, and
paid $50 IN annual dues, which swelled the purse
OF the treasurer Of their association like Mark
Twaln's jumping frog of Calaveras county
when it was full of bird-shot. The strange
young man from Pike who came aud asked an
elderly granger for advice on woolculture. was
handed catalogue of BARRIERS supplies by that
humorloving gentleman. But when President
Nelson called the meeting to order, more sober
set of men never graced the bench of Supreme
Court
Mr. Nelson, in his address, stated that there were
many things encouraging in the outlook for wool
culture in this State. The price of wool had in
creased at least % per cent last year, and the
opportunities for its sale were greater than ever
A like advance had also occurred in mutton.
Three years ago, he said. when the tariff upon
foreign wool was reduced, the condition of wool
culture throughout the country was very dis
couraglng, and resulted in partial wrecking Of
the industry. While it was fact that an Amer
lean wool-grower could not get as high price
Tor medium wool as WAS paid to foreign
growers, they could sell their medium crops to
the foreign manufacturers at c.uch better
price than at home He deprecated any attempt
to change this tariff construction. and predicted
that any change would be detrimental to the
growers interests. He thought that all classes
OF wool could be grown in this State, and tn at
the country at large possessed better facilities
Tor sheeprraising than did the far-famed land OF
that industry, Australia.
Among the leading Indiana wool growers in
attendance at the meeting are Col Fielding
Beeler OF this county; S. w. DUNCAN, of John
son; John l.. Thompson of Grant; Mortimer
lowering, of Tippecanoe county, who has a num-
Der OF fine herds of Shropshires and Hampshire
Downs; j. r. Tomlinson, of Falkland, aud Rob-
ert Mitchell. of Gibson Some of these gentle
men have large herds of sheep, grazing over ex-
tensive pastureland, and pay particular atten-
| ton to this branch of stock raising, and with
| successful results
| Sheep culture has been greatly engaged in all
| over the State, but during the year 1886, on &C.
| count of the tariff law and the ravages of dogs
the number of sheep raised fell several hundred
| thousand short of the previous year. The fore
most counties of the State in wool production
| are Montgomery, Steuben and Lagrange, which
raise between 40, 900 and 40. 900 head annually.
| Eikhart and Dekab come next raising from
| 30,0 600 to 40, 600 a year. In several counties
| there are organized societies for the promotion
| OF sheep-raising, and one of the more prominent
is the Shropshire Breeding Society, of Lafay-
| ette
At the meeting yesterday President Nelson
appointed j. w Robe, of Greencastle, secretary.
to fill the vacancy caused by the recent death Of
!. J. Farquhar There were also read number
of interesting papers upon the various subjects
connected with sheep-raising, among them
eSiens of the Times" by Nixon Henly, Of Mon
rovia, and "The Common Farmer as a Mutton
and Wool-grower," by John McGauchy. of Gal
| lRndet.
The following papers will be read this morn
| ing: Fitting Sheep for the Show Ring" j. r.
Tcmlinson, Falkland: Grazing Different Kinds
of Stock Together" c. A. Rowland, Indianapo.
| lis Distinguishing characteristics of the South
downs, Oxford Downs and Hampshire Downs,
Mortimer lowering, Lafayette. The convention
| will djourn at noon, after which the short-horr
breeders Of the State will hold their annua
| meeting